10th edition of SAIIT: the official launch in Niamey

Placed under the high patronage of the Head of State of Niger, the African Exhibition of Invention and Innovative Enterprise will be held from October 5 to 7, 2026, focusing on the financing of innovative SMEs.

It was in the pleasant setting of the Mahatma Gandhi International Center in Niamey that the press conference marking the official launch of the 10th edition of the African Invention and Innovative Business Fair (SAIIT) was held on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Some fifty national and international media outlets, along with a strong presence of Nigerien influencers, took part in this event, which was led by the Minister of Trade and Industry of Niger, the OAPI Administrator for that country, surrounded by his colleagues from the ministries in charge of technical and vocational education and training, and higher education, research and technological innovation, as well as the Director General of OAPI.

For nearly two hours, discussions helped to define the key issues of the event. The Minister of Trade and Industry immediately emphasized the importance of this trade fair for Niger, which is under the high patronage of the Head of State himself, General Abdourahamane Tiani.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of OAPI, Denis L. BOHOUSSOU, praised the unique significance of this continental gathering, hosted in Niamey at a pivotal moment in the country's history. "It is a shining testament to the resilience of a people who, in the face of adversity, resolutely choose to look towards the future, to continue to create, invent, and undertake,"he stated, recalling that Niger is not just an ordinary partner for the Organization: it is one of the founding members, among the twelve signatory states, on September 13, 1962, in Libreville, of the Agreement that gave birth to the precursor of OAPI.

A theme at the heart of African economies

The Director General then unveiled the theme of this edition: “Intellectual Property and Financing for Innovative SMEs.” This choice highlights one of the continent’s major challenges. “Our inventors, startups, and small and medium-sized enterprises are not lacking in ingenuity, ideas, or solutions. What they too often lack is the ability to transform these innovations into bankable economic assets and access to the financing necessary for their growth,” he explained.

This is precisely where intellectual property plays a decisive role. "An intellectual property title is not a simple administrative document: it is an asset, endowed with an economic value, which can be assessed, valued, used as collateral and traded,"insisted the CEO, summarizing his conviction with a formula: by giving the intangible a legal existence and a market value, intellectual property constitutes "the missing link between innovation and financing.

To build this bridge between idea and capital, OAPI has designed, in partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), an innovative mechanism for financing invention and innovation, the operationalization of which will be one of the great moments in Niamey.

A trade show transformed into a financing ecosystem

From October 5 to 7, 2026, the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre will host a packed program: an exhibition bringing together around sixty inventors and project leaders from the 17 member states of the Organization, joined by Algeria and Tunisia; a conference on financing innovative SMEs; a panel dedicated to the financing mechanism; an inter-university competition on intellectual property; business meetings (B to B); and a gala evening during which the Salon Prizes will be awarded.

A significant new feature: for the first time, certain awards will come with vouchers for entry into the incubation or acceleration phase. "Recognition will therefore no longer stop at the trophy: it will concretely open a path to the market," the Director General stated. On the evening of October 7, the best projects will be awarded by an international jury, and the most promising winners will receive support from OAPI, including funding for their participation in the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

A call to the press

In closing his remarks, the Director General made a special appeal to women and men in the media, inviting them to become ambassadors for intellectual property. "Making the inventor a role model, the patent a source of pride, and the funding of innovation a given: this is the noble mission I propose you share with us," he declared, calling on the press to fully commit to informing and raising awareness among the public about this major event that Niger is preparing to host.

In short